Shakira Acquitted in Spain Tax Fraud Case After Eight-Year Battle, Wins 60M Euro Reimbursement

Spain’s National Court has acquitted Shakira in a tax fraud case following an eight-year legal battle, ordering the Spanish government to return 60 million euros ($69 million) to the Colombian artist. According to a judicial document obtained May 18, 2026, by Billboard Español, the court determined that Shakira did not meet the minimum residency requirements necessary to be taxed in Spain during 2011.

The legal dispute centered on whether the singer was required to pay Spanish taxes on income earned during a 2011 world tour, a year in which she performed 120 concerts across 37 different countries. While tax authorities had argued that the artist spent sufficient time within Spanish territory to be classified as a tax resident, the court ultimately rejected that claim.

In addition to the residency ruling, the court dismissed the assertion that Spain served as the primary center of Shakira’s economic activities. The court ordered the return of the 60 million euros that had been withheld, as well as the payment of associated interest and legal costs.

Following the verdict, Shakira released a statement addressing the emotional and physical impact of the prolonged litigation.

“After more than eight years enduring brutal public accusations and sleepless nights that took a toll on my health and my family’s well-being, the National Court has finally set the record straight,” Shakira said. “There was never any fraud, and the Administration itself was never able to prove otherwise.”

Shakira expressed her hope that the court’s decision sets a precedent for other taxpayers who find themselves in similar disputes with Spain’s Tax Agency.

The singer’s lawyer, José Luis Prada, described the conclusion of the case as the end of an eight-year ordeal. Prada noted that while Shakira possessed the strength and resources to see it through to the end, the legal process is one that suffocates many anonymous taxpayers who lack the resources to defend themselves.

This acquittal follows a separate legal matter with the Spanish Tax Agency that was resolved in November 2023. In that instance, Shakira reached an agreement regarding unpaid taxes for the years 2012 through 2014, a period during which she resided in Barcelona with her former partner, Gerard Piqué. In that case, the artist acknowledged six charges for unpaid taxes, paid a $7.6 million fine, and received a suspended three-year sentence.

The court’s decision arrives during a period of significant international activity for the singer. Shakira is currently preparing to conclude the European leg of her Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran World Tour in Madrid. For the final stretch of the tour, she has 12 dates scheduled for October 2026 at a temporary venue called Shakira Stadium, which was constructed specifically for these performances.

The ruling also coincides with several high-profile career milestones. The artist recently performed for 2.5 million people at the Copacabana in Rio de Janeiro and is scheduled to perform at the halftime show of the FIFA World Cup 2026 final, appearing alongside Madonna and BTS.